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2026 Legal AI Adoption & Impact Report

The latest report from Everlaw, ACEDS, and ILTA offers an exclusive look at how over 250 legal leaders are responding to a rapidly changing industry. Discover how partners, general counsel, and litigation support professionals are navigating today’s legal landscape—and embracing the opportunities presented by generative AI.

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Legal Profession's Adoption of GenAI vs. Cloud-Based Ediscovery

Key Findings from the 2026 Legal AI Adoption & Impact Report

Generative AI Adoption Far Outpaces That of the Cloud

Legal professionals are adopting generative AI at a much faster rate than cloud-based ediscovery software. In just four years since the release of ChatGPT, generative AI has reached roughly the same level of adoption as cloud-based ediscovery software in a fraction of the time. This acceleration signals that modern legal teams are no longer late adopters of transformative technology, but instead are actively seeking it out.

Does your organization proactively disclose to clients when generative AI has been used to draft their correspondence, contracts, or legal documents? Select all that apply.

Legal Organizations Are Still Defining Their AI Transparency Approach

The wider proliferation of AI has opened the conversation of whether organizations are disclosing its use to their clients. The industry seems split on this, with 31% saying they do disclose generative AI use for all substantive legal work (e.g., drafting, research, and analysis), and 26% saying they don’t disclose because they treat AI as an internal utility.

How frequently do you use generative AI in your legal work?

Generative AI Becomes Embedded in Day-to-Day Legal Work

This year’s results show that generative AI is becoming a regular part of day-to-day legal work rather than an occasional experimental tool. Twenty-one percent of respondents are using generative AI multiple times a day, an increase of 11 percentage points from last year, and 19% are using it at least daily, up from 16% last year last year.

Do you believe the proliferation of generative AI will significantly alter conventional billing practices?

Generative AI Puts the Billable Hour Under Pressure

The billable hour has long been a cornerstone of the legal practice, but many in the profession believe it’s overdue for a change. Nineteen percent of respondents believe the proliferation of generative AI has significantly altered conventional billing practices, representing an increase of eight percentage points from last year. Additionally, 31% believe it will significantly alter billing practices in the next year, which is 11 percentage points higher than last year.

How will AI impact skills development in early-career legal professionals? Select all that apply.

AI Forces Firms to Rethink Junior Attorney Development

When it comes to the impact AI will have on skills development in early-career legal professionals, the results show that firms will need to rethink how they build foundational skills and create opportunities for hands-on development for those junior attorneys. Thirty percent of respondents believe it will create a foundational skills gap, leaving junior attorneys underdeveloped.

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